Jesse Collin (John) Cook Jr. was born June 18, 1920 in Corsicana, Texas to Jesse Collin Cook, Sr. and wife, Norma Tressa Matthews. He passed away Wednesday, June 12, 2013 at the Olin E. Teague Veterans Ceneter in Temple.
He grew up in Corsicana and Athens, Texas where he graduated from high school in 1938. He married to Pearl Estell (Peggy) Gordon on March 22, 1942 at Eleventh Avenue Methodist Church in Corsicana, Texas. The day after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and was accepted into the Army Air Corps where he served for almost four years. He attended Army Air Corps Technical School at Sheppard Field, TX and was a member of the 465th Bomber Squadron, Harding Field, Baton Rouge, LA.
Mr. Cook was a surveyor & draftsman for the Southern Pacific Railroad in El Paso for four years. In 1952, he was hired by the Santa Fe Railroad and moved to Temple. He retired as General Foreman of Bridge & Building Service of the Southern Division after 31 years of service.
He was a member of the of the Temple Elks Lodge, Disabled American Veterans, a volunteer with CTLC ( Church Touching Lives for Christ), United Methodist Men, a Board Trustee @ 7th Street United Methodist Church, and member of the grounds crew for Oak Park. He loved working in his yard, fishing and spending time with his grandchildren.
He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Pearl Estell Cook, three daughter: Peggy Dillard (Richard) of Belton, Alice Garcia (Ted) and Sally Vaughan of Temple. He has eight grandchildren: DeAnna Dillard Powers (Mark) of Lewisville, Richard Dillard Jr. of Dumas, and Chad Dillard of Belton, Gabe Garcia (Elissa) of Temple, Eric Garcia of Memphis, TN, Trenton Vaughan (Ashley) of Temple, Tyson Vaughan (Julie Tuck) of Arlington, Teysha Vaughan (Dustin Jasper) of Temple, ten great-grandchildren: Ashley Powers (Mike Metzler) of Carrollton, Haley Powers Elrod (Peyton) of Lewisville, Joshua and Garrett Powers of Lewisville, Hunter Dillard of White Oak, Julia and Gabby Garcia of Temple, Brodie Vaughan of Arlington, Ross, Ryon and Eli Vaughan of Temple and Charles Lankford also of Temple. He also had one great-great granddaughter, Emma Lauren Power of Carrollton.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Ann McPhaill, brother, Talmadge Cook and infant daughter, Cathy Jane Cook.
Serving as pallbearers will be Mr. Cook’s six grandsons: Richard Dillard, Jr., Chad Dillard, Gabe Garcia, Eric Garcia, Trenton Vaughan, and Tyson Vaughan.
Memorials may be made to the Oak Park United Methodist Church Sanctuary Fund (5505 S. 31st Street, Temple, TX 76502)
The Cook family will receive guests for a time of visitation on Friday, June 14, 2013 from 5-7 PM at Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home of Temple. Funeral services will be on Saturday, June 15, 2013 at 11:00 AM in the Chapel of Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home of Temple. Burial will follow in Bellwood Memorial Park Cemetery.
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